The Chittagong Port Protection Movement Council has suspended its ongoing strike at Chittagong Port for two days, the council announced Thursday following a meeting with the Shipping Adviser Brig Gen (Retd) M Sakhawat Hossain at the port headquarters.
Council coordinator Md Humayun Kabir said the strike will be halted on Friday and Saturday to allow time for the adviser to respond to their demands.
If no resolution is reached by Saturday, the council plans to resume its action on Sunday.
Earlier in the day, port workers blocked the adviser’s vehicle in protest.
The strike began 6 days ago as a demonstration against the government’s decision to lease the New Mooring Container Terminal (NCT) to the UAE-based company DP World.
Initially, workers staged three days of eight-hour stoppages, followed by a 24-hour strike, and then called an indefinite work stoppage.
During Thursday’s talks, the council presented four demands: that the NCT not be leased to DP World, that administrative actions against workers be withdrawn, that Port chairman SM Moniruzzaman resign, and other related demands regarding the lease issue.
After the meeting, the shipping adviser told reporters that closing the port before Ramadan was inappropriate and that no one has the authority to shut the port.
He also warned that the government might take firmer steps if operations do not resume.
Regarding the NCT contract, the adviser said it may not be possible to halt the agreement but added that no contract would be finalized if it harms the country. He noted that negotiations with DP World have not yet been concluded.
